In Depth
The key thing about Judiceratops is that at the time of its description it appears to be the oldest known chasmosaurine ceratopsian dinosaur. Unfortunately only an incomplete skull is known for the genus, so figures on size and a confirmed arrangement of horns and neck frill are a little tricky to establish.
Judiceratops is the second confirmed chasmosaurine ceratopsian dinosaur to be named from the Judith River Formation; the first was Medusaceratops in 2010. At the time of its discovery the only other two ceratopsian dinosaurs confirmed as being in the Judith River Formation are the centrosaurines Avaceratops and Albertaceratops. Other genera have been considered, but their remains are often considered dubious.
Aside from ceratopsian dinosaurs, Judiceratops may have shared its habitat with hadrosaurid dinosaurs such as Lambeosaurus and Brachylophosaurus. Small predatory dinosaurs such as the dromaeosaur Dromaeosaurus and the troodontid Troodon also seem to have been present. The main threat for Judiceratops however would come from tyrannosaurs like Gorgosaurus.
Further Reading
- Judiceratops tigris, a New Horned Dinosaur from the Middle Campanian Judith River Formation of Montana, Nicholas R. Longrich - 2013.
